Friday, June 26, 2015

Front cover of the 1968 Massamet, the yearbook of the first graduating class from Mohawk Trail Regional High School. 155 pages, black & white photos and text, published after the June 20, 1968 graduation.

BUCKLAND—The Mohawk Trail Regional School District will turn 50 in two years, and former teacher/English department head C.J. Barnes, who taught in the district for 35 years, is helping coordinate a booklet to commemorate the milestone.

Barnes told the Mohawk School Committee on Wednesday, May 20 that with the class of 2015, Student Services reports that 5,273 students will have received diplomas in the past 50 years.

The publication may contain an overview of the District's formation, the current campus then and now, and tributes to "accomplished alumni." The Mary Lyon Foundation is supporting the project.

A nomination form has been developed and names are being solicited from community members. Find a nomination form at the Mohawk Trail Regional School or by contacting Barnes at [ ]. Nomination forms will also be on the school Web site soon.

(The above article is from the Shelburne Falls & West County Independent, Thursday, May 21, 2015, page 16.)

Here are a few scanned images from the 1968 Massamet (click on each image to view larger):

The first page of the Senior portraits. The Dedication on page 8 says "To be a senior is to fuss with hairdos and neckties for one moment in front of a camera to capture that first realization that you are a senior ..."

A common theme throughout the book is building a community from the three schools that were combined into Mohawk. Grade Seven mentions being fortunate to not have "the problems of rivalry between schools which the upper classes had to be so careful to avoid."

"Our first task was to decide on a name for our new publication. The Indian name of the nearby mountain, the Massamet, was chosen."

Band uniforms did not arrive in time for Booster Day. "Undiscouraged, they appeared in jeans and sweatshirts ..."

The band's first performance in their new uniforms was during the intermission of the Junior Class play on March 22 & 23, 1968.

Student Council is formed to strengthen and unify the student body.

The Booster Day football game was played on the field at the Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School.

The new gymnasium was not completed until after the Christmas vacation.

Mohawk's first graduation was on June 20, 1968, at 7:00 pm in the Mohawk gymnasium. Senator Edward Brooke was the guest speaker.

Graduation photos

There are 24 pages of ads in the back of the yearbook, including this full-page ad from Western Mass. Electric Co. saluting the "First Class to Graduate from Franklin County's FIRST ALL ELECTRIC HIGH SCHOOL."

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

You are probably doing some of your online shopping at Amazon.com. Support the Mohawk Music Association at the same time by starting your shopping at https://smile.amazon.com/ch/04-2575587. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to
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Last year, between July 1, 2014 and June 9, 2015, AmazonSmile donated $21.94 to the Mohawk Music Association. Let's increase that donation amount in the coming year!

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

This year’s spring drama showcase is entitled “All Talk” and includes a variety of pieces that examine the theme of communication.

The production includes dramatic pieces by notable writers from Ernest Hemingway to David Sedaris, and also features the work of some of the most celebrated authors of ten-minute plays. “All Talk” endeavors to illuminate how we use language and how we, well… all talk.

As
the year comes to an end, our music students have a lot going on - as usual!
You can read below about our year-end activities: Band and Chorus members will
perform at Graduation, and also visit elementary schools for outreach
performances this week; Tri-M will have an induction ceremony for new members;
the Freedom Singers will visit Mohawk and work with our students on Friday. The
following week will be finals.

Freedom Singers. Image courtesy of Bill Perlman
This picture, taken in Jackson, Miss.,
a couple of years ago, shows, from left, Bill Perlman, Chuck Neblett,
Marshall Jones and Emory Harris.

You can also read below about some great
opportunities for our students over the summer, and about the MMA meeting this
week in which new officers will be elected.This has been a great year for our high school
music students! Thank you to everyone who came out to hear our students perform
this year, and to everyone who contributed their time and energy to our
numerous events and fundraisers! Summer will be sweet, but I already can't wait
for next year!!Scott Halliganshalligan@mohawkschools.org

GraduationHigh School Band and Chorus members will be
honoring the graduating class with performances at Graduation this Sunday.
Call time for student performers is noon.

Elementary School Outreach PerformancesHigh
School and Middle School Band and Chorus members will be visiting our
elementary schools this week to give outreach performances. On Monday students will perform at BSE,
Hawlemont, and Rowe. On Thursday students
will perform at Sanderson and Heath. Unfortunately we are unable to visit
Colrain due to logistical challenges.

Freedom Singers to visit MohawkJune 12We
are very fortunate to be welcoming The Freedom Singers to Mohawk this Friday, June 12.
The Freedom Singers were significant players in the Civil Rights Movement.
Their music helped fuel that movement and carry its message far and wide. They
performed at historic marches, college campuses, and even at the White House.
Each member of the group was also a field secretary for the Student Nonviolent
Coordinating Committee, or SNCC (pronounced "Snick"). Mohawk students
will meet the members of the Freedom Singers (including Bill Perlman of
Ashfield), and hear the story and the music of the Movement from those who were
there! [Article in The Recorder Saturday, June 6, 2015 "Freedom worth singing for"]

FinalsMusic students will have final performance exams
before the end of the year. These exams can be performed live in the music room
or can be recorded and emailed to me at shalligan@mohawkschools.org

Summer OpportunitiesStudents have several opportunities for making
music over the summer! Band members should strongly consider playing with the
Shelburne Falls Military Band and/or the Ashfield Community Band. Singers
should consider attending Summer Sings with the Pioneer Valley Symphony
Orchestra and Chorus, where they can sing gorgeous music with a large choir and
live orchestra! More information about these opportunities can be found on my
class pages:https://sites.google.com/a/mohawkschools.org/high-school-music/

An additional opportunity for singers is the
Harmony Explosion camp at Worcester State University, August 6-9.
Scholarships are available! This is a weekend music camp for high-school aged
singers. Visit this website for more information:http://www.nedistrict.org/hxneIf you would like to learn about scholarships
please contact me via phone ASAP: 625-9811 x1317

MMA MeetingJune 9The Mohawk Music Association will meet on Tuesday, June 9 at
6:30pm in the Mohawk Library
to elect officers for the 2015-16 school year. Be there!

Middle
School Music News from Ms. Glover

Chorus:

In class chorus students are working on group projects. Each
group has selected a song to learn together, and eventually perform. They are also
exploring their creativity by adding instruments, solos and harmony. We will be
working on this project from now until the end of the year, with the final
project graded as the performance portion of their final exam.

Finals:

Speaking of finals, each class will be taking a final exam
this year. This will consist of a performance portion, as well as a written
exam. Please see details and dates below so that your child can plan
accordingly. We will also do some work in class. I will be posting all terms, policies and rubrics online, as well as a
link to the quizlet, from which I will be taking the exam questions. Please see
my Class Pages!

Chorus Final: June 9th

Performance: group work (50
points)

Written: 20 terms (15 for grade 7)

Band Final: June 10th

Performance: (sight-reading,
salute to freedom: individual)

Written: 20 terms (15 for grade 7)

Elementary performances:

Both HS and MS ensembles will be performing at our district
elementary schools. These performances will be during school on June 8th and
June 11th. Students are not required to wear concert dress, however should wear
nice clothes, following school dress code guidelines. The performances will be
as follows.

June 8th

9:00 - BSE

10:00 - Hawlemont

11:00-Rowe

June 11th

9:00 - Heath

10:30 - Sanderson

**All students must have a signed
permission slip in order to attend.

The Arts at Mohawk

All Talk on
June 12 and June 13

This year’s spring drama showcase
is entitled “All Talk” and includes a variety of
pieces that examine the theme of communication. The production includes
dramatic pieces by notable writers from Ernest Hemingway to David Sedaris, and
also features the work of some of the most celebrated authors of ten-minute
plays. “All Talk” endeavors to illuminate how we use language and how we, well…
all talk. Performances will be held in the Mohawk Auditorium on
Friday, June 12th and
Saturday, June 13th at 7:00
pm. For more information, please
e-mail Leanne Blaszak at lblaszak@mohawkschools.org. We’ll see you there!

Concerts, Shows, and Plays
available onlineYou
can see videos of recent Mohawk student productions that James Sullivan,
Program & Outreach Coordinator for Falls Cable, has added to the Falls
Cable video website. Check out the links
to Mohawk Student Productions on the Falls Cable website: https://vimeo.com/album/3409623

1993 --- The U.S. Postal Service debuted its Legends of American Music, Rock and Roll/Rhythm and Blues stamp collection. The set featured Bill Haley, Buddy Holly, Clyde McPhatter, Elvis Presley, Otis Redding, Ritchie Valens, and Dinah Washington.

Friday, June 5, 2015

Congratulations to the following Seniors who were awarded the Mohawk Music Association Scholarships, and the Shelburne Falls, Military Band Scholarship, at Senior Awards Night on Thursday, June 4, 2015.

Noah Blakeslee - $500

Nick Brown - $250

Caleb Browning - $500

Samantha Harris-Fried - $500

Hannah Monohon - $500

Mohawk Music Association Scholarship Awards
These scholarships are awarded based on the following requisites (in
order of importance):
1. Musicianship.
2. Student must have been a member of the Mohawk Music Department
for a minimum of two years, including his/her graduating year.
3. Dependability, commitment, and merit within the Music Department
and/or the Association.
4. A student planning to major in music in college will be given
priority.

Your Donation Helps

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Tote Bags

Available at Music Department events. Make a donation and receive a tote bag. They measure 12" H x 16" W x 6" D and are 100% recyclable. The bags have stitched seams and reinforced handles.

Shop at AmazonSmile

You are probably doing some of your online shopping at Amazon.com. You can support the Mohawk Music Association at the same time by starting your shopping at https://smile.amazon.com/ch/04-2575587. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to
Mohawk High Music Association
(our official registered charitable organization name) whenever you shop on AmazonSmile.

Please consider giving it a try. Same products, same prices, same service, but a small portion of the purchase price will be donated to the MMA.